Mediterranean diet protects osteoporosis patients from fractures

People with osteoporosis should eat Mediterranean

Researchers now found out that osteoporosis patients should best take a so-called Mediterranean diet. This could in many cases prevent those affected from breaking their hips.

The scientists from the University of Bologna and the University of East Anglia found in their current study that a Mediterranean diet can avoid dangerous fractures of the hip in many people with osteoporosis. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition".

Older people should eat these foods

With a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, untreated grains, olive oil and fish, bone loss can be prevented in the elderly. The experts found this in their long-term analysis of the effects of diet on bone health in older adults. The study involved British, French, Dutch and Polish researchers.

Physicians examined almost 1,150 subjects

For the study, nearly 1,150 volunteers were medically monitored for over a year. At the beginning and at the end of the EU-funded study, the bone density of subjects was measured. Half of the participants, aged between 65 and 79, were asked to eat a Mediterranean diet. The other subjects were eating normally.

The femoral neck is a particularly sensitive area for osteoporosis

Diets with a normal bone density had no significant effect on nutrition. However, it has been found that a Mediterranean diet offers benefits for osteoporotic patients. All osteoporotic patients who did not take any Mediterranean diet had the usual age-related decrease in bone density. However, when the participants followed the Mediterranean diet, an increase in bone density in the femoral neck was observed. This is the area that connects the thighbone shaft to the rounded head that fits into the hip joint. This area is a particularly sensitive area for osteoporosis, as bone loss in the femoral neck is often the cause of hip fracture, says study author Professor Susan Fairweather-Tait of the University of East Anglia.

Eat these foods

More fruits and fish and less sugary drinks and snacks are the most important aspects of a Mediterranean diet. People should take more fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, lettuce, whole grains, fish, meat and monounsaturated fats like olive oil.

Avoid consuming these foods

The consumption of certain foods should be avoided in a healthy diet. These include, for example, saturated fats (butter), red meat, processed foods (juice and white bread), lemonade and sugar.

Result is significant

Bone takes a long time to form. Therefore, the 12-month study, although one of the longest, was still a relatively short timeframe to study the effect of diet. The fact that a clear difference in the area of ​​the femoral neck was found, therefore, is quite significant, explain the researchers.

Further research is needed

Bone density was measured in both lumbar spine, lower back and femoral neck groups. A longer study might allow experts to measure changes in volunteers with normal bone density. The researchers also call for a longer trial in patients with osteoporosis to review their findings. If the condition could be alleviated by the diet, this would be a welcome addition to the current drug treatments for osteoporosis, which may have serious side effects, the study authors emphasize. (As)